Critical Theories Of Psychological Development

Something instructive occurred in the process of entitling the present collection. Both editor and publisher sought a simple and succinct rubric for the various pieces of work. But they rapidly and reluctantly reached the consensus that, by either intellectual or marketing criteria, the inser tion of the adjective "psychological" to qualify the noun "development" was a communicative necessity. Much to the chagrin of the develop mental psychologist, the term development still connotes-to the world at large as well as the general community of publishers, librarians, and computer archivists-the modernization of nation states. Inside and outside the university, I find that, when asked, "What are you in terested in?" I am not at liberty to reply, "The concept of development," without being absorbed immediately into a discussion of Third World studies. The approach of the present volume should be taken as an exhortation to psychologists to take the genealogy of "development'' seriously. The history of the discipline is not so different from the histo ry of the word and, as we shall discover, the concern with developmen tal progress cannot easily be separated from the urge for dominion. This volume presents a selection from the recent critical scholarship on psychological development. The emphasis is on rethinking the field of developmental psychology at the level of theory.

Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives provides an engaging and perceptive overview of both well-established and recent theories in child and adolescent psychology. This unique summary of traditional scientific perspectives alongside critical post-modern thinking will provide readers with a sense of the historical development of different schools of thought. The authors also place theories of child development in philosophical and cultural contexts, explore links between them, and consider the implications of theory for practice in the light of the latest thinking and developments in implementation and translational science. Early chapters cover mainstream theories such as those of Piaget, Skinner, Freud, Maccoby and Vygotsky, whilst later chapters present interesting lesser-known theorists such as Sergei Rubinstein, and more recent influential theorists such as Esther Thelen. The book also addresses lifespan perspectives and systems theory, and describes the latest thinking in areas ranging from evolutionary theory and epigenetics, to feminism, the voice of the child and Indigenous theories. The new edition of Child Development has been extensively revised to include considerable recent advances in the field. As with the previous edition, the book has been written with the student in mind, and includes a number of useful pedagogical features including further reading, discussion questions, activities, and websites of interest. Child Development: Theories and Critical Perspectives will be essential reading for students on advanced courses in developmental psychology, education, social work and social policy, and the lucid style will also make it accessible to readers with little or no background in psychology.

Unique in its attention to both cultural and critical perspectives, this book contributes strongly to the advance of developmental psychology beyond the cognitive-developmental paradigm that has defined the field for the past quarter century. It provides insights from critical pedagogy, cultural psychology, feminism, postmodernism, critical theory, and semiotics and offers new perspectives into the lived experiences of children, adolescents, and adults in the contemporary world.

Does mainstream psychology offer us a 'true' insight into human nature? Or are current psychological theories and philosphies as much to be taken in the context of today's social and political thinking as were past beliefs within the discipline? Addressing this sometimes contentious debate, 'History and Theories of Psychology' introduces the core issues of critical psychology from a historical perspective. The authors show how the development of the discipline, far from being a steady progression towards an empirically verifiable truth, has been significantly shaped by its host society throughout history. The book is divided into two main sections. The first provides an overview of the history of psychology, using the benefit of hindsight to demonstrate how the discipline has been influenced and encroached upon by external events. The second applies the same broad perspective to issues in present day psychology, covering topics such as: the role of contemporary psychology, methodology within psychology, folk psychology and social constructionism. By addressing these issues in the light of critical psychology, the book aims to present a more realistic appreciation of the nature and scope of modern psychology, promoting greater critical awareness in students and teachers alike.

This broad-ranging introduction to the diverse strands of critical psychology explores the history, practice and values of psychology, scrutinises a wide range of sub-disciplines, and sets out the major theoretical frameworks.

In this book, Sheila Greene presents a challenging new perspective on the psychological development of girls and women which emphasises the central role of time in human development. She critically reviews traditional and contemporary theoretical approaches - ranging from orthodox psychoanalysis to relational and post-modern theories - and argues that even those claiming to be focused on development have presented a view of women's lives as fixed and determined by their nature or their past. These theories, she believes, should be rejected because of their inherent lack of validity and their frequently oppressive implications for women. Greene's approach places primary importance on temporality itself and on the competing discourses on time, age and development which play an active role in the construction of the lives of girls and women. Essential but often neglected insights from the more compelling developmental and feminist theories are woven together within a theoretical framework that emphasises temporality, emergence and human agency. The result is a liberating theory of women's psychological development as constantly emerging and changing in time rather than as static and fixed by their nature, socio-cultural context and personal history. The Psychological Development of Girls and Women will be essential reading for students and researchers in the psychology of women, developmental psychology and women's studies.

First published in 1986. The chapters and discussions presented in this volume derive from the conference, Value presuppositions in theories of human development, sponsored by the Heinz Werner Institute, Clark University, on June 10-11, 1983. The conference included both psychologists and philosophers and mainly concerned those assumptions about what ought to be that enter into the ways that investigators in the human sciences construe development

Theories of School Psychology: Critical Perspectives describes the theories, frameworks, and conceptual models that underlie the science and practice of school psychology. Chapters provide an orientation to theories, frameworks, and conceptual models that address core school psychology domains along with application to common student, school, and system issues prevalent in the field. Promoting a deeper study of the fundamental processes and approaches in school psychology, this book advances the embedding of theories, frameworks, and models into the design and delivery of educational and psychological services for children, youth, families, and schools. Case vignettes, empirical evidence, and a broad emphasis on prevention and implementation science provide students and trainers with important information for problem-solving in research and in the field.